1st Advantage MortgageThe median Hillsdale County household earns $64,242, and 14% of residents live below the poverty line. A loan makes sense only if its total cost beats your alternatives and the payment fits your budget. Check the lender's Michigan license first.
On this page
- Getting oriented in Hillsdale County
- Paychecks and income spread in Hillsdale County
- Work, industries and travel time in Hillsdale County
- Renting and owning in Hillsdale County
- Places inside Hillsdale County
- How Hillsdale County compares with nearby counties
- Debt-to-income at Hillsdale County's medians
- Hillsdale County households compared
- Borrowing situations common in Hillsdale County
- Checking a lender's license in Michigan
- Four steps for Hillsdale County borrowers
- Related local guides
- Frequently asked questions
Getting oriented in Hillsdale County
With an estimated 45,654 residents (ACS 2020 to 2024), Hillsdale County ranks 37th of 83 in Michigan for population. Packed into 598 square miles, that is close to 76 residents for every square mile of land. Under the July 2023 OMB definitions, Hillsdale County is not part of any metropolitan area. Hillsdale is the biggest of its 12 Census places, at roughly 8,002 people (18% of the county total).
Paychecks and income spread in Hillsdale County
Hillsdale County households have a median income of $64,242 (ACS 2020 to 2024), which ranks 39th of 83 in Michigan.
| Yearly household income | Hillsdale County | Gap to Michigan |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 25.7% | +2.6 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 46.8% | +5.4 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 22.0% | -3.9 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 5.4% | -4.1 pts |
The spread is wide: 27% of Hillsdale County households make $100,000 or more, and 26% make less than $35,000. 14.4% of residents fall below the federal poverty line (statewide: 13.2%). Income inequality, measured by the Gini index, comes to 0.431 here. A household earning below the $64,242 median should test any payment carefully; one earning above it should still pick the shortest term it can manage.
Work, industries and travel time in Hillsdale County
The biggest employer of Hillsdale County residents, by industry, is education and health care at 27% of workers, followed by manufacturing (21%). The sharpest difference from the state is in education and health care, at 27% locally and 23% for Michigan. Averaged over the five survey years, 4.4% of the labor force was out of work and looking. About 77% drive to work alone and 13% have trips of 45 minutes or more.
| Where residents work | Hillsdale County | Difference from Michigan |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 26.8% | +3.4 pts |
| Manufacturing | 20.6% | +2.4 pts |
| Retail trade | 13.1% | +2.3 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 6.4% | -2.0 pts |
| Construction | 5.9% | 0.0 pts |
| Transportation, warehousing and utilities | 5.3% | +0.5 pts |
Industry shapes paperwork. Salaried and public jobs are easy to verify, while hourly, tipped, commission or contract earners in Hillsdale County should have bank statements and tax returns ready.
Renting and owning in Hillsdale County
Median gross rent, utilities included, comes to $832 in Hillsdale County versus $1,129 statewide. Rent takes 30% or more of income for 41% of renter households here. With a median value of $176,100, a typical Hillsdale County house costs 2.7 times what the median household earns in a year. Owners occupy 82% of homes. The median home was built in 1971, so roofs, wiring and heating systems are a common source of repair bills.
| Measure | Hillsdale County | Michigan | Median U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $832/mo | $1,129/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $176,100 | $231,600 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 82% | 73% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 41% | 50% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 26% | 23% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 9.2% | 5.0% | n/a |
| Vacant units | 17% | 12% | n/a |
Owners with equity have a second option. Weigh a secured line against an unsecured loan by risk as well as cost before you choose (how they compare).
Places inside Hillsdale County
The table lists the 12 largest of 12 Census places in Hillsdale County, by population. Together all 12 hold about 17,443 people, so roughly 62% of residents live outside any named place. Lake LeAnn has the highest median household income on the list ($89,076) and Pittsford the lowest ($45,833), counting places with at least 500 residents. Median rent ranges from $734 in Litchfield to $940 in Pittsford. This guide covers each of the 12 places and the rural areas around them.
| Name | Kind | Pop. | Income | Rent | Miles |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hillsdale | city | 8,002 | $51,038 | $812 | 0 mi |
| Jonesville | city | 2,319 | $65,200 | $811 | 4 mi |
| Lake LeAnn | CDP | 1,657 | $89,076 | n/a | 14 mi |
| Litchfield | city | 1,566 | $53,182 | $734 | 10 mi |
| Reading | city | 947 | $49,342 | $835 | 8 mi |
| Pittsford | CDP | 707 | $45,833 | $940 | 9 mi |
| Camden | village | 608 | $51,250 | $915 | 13 mi |
| Waldron | village | 603 | $52,750 | $850 | 18 mi |
| North Adams | village | 435 | $52,813 | $900 | 6 mi |
| Montgomery | village | 301 | $51,250 | $1,167 | 14 mi |
| Allen | village | 170 | $66,111 | $581 | 7 mi |
| Cambria | CDP | 128 | $53,125 | n/a | 8 mi |
How Hillsdale County compares with nearby counties
Distances run center to center, from Branch County at 22 miles out to Calhoun County at 29. Income ranges from $61,048 in Williams County to $74,911 in Steuben County; 3 of these neighbors top Hillsdale County's median. The list crosses into Indiana, Ohio, where different lending rules and regulators apply.
| Neighbor | Distance | Income | Rent | Own |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hillsdale County | - | $64,242 | $832/mo | 82% |
| Branch County, MI | 22 mi | $63,724 | $959/mo | 78% |
| Jackson County, MI | 25 mi | $66,073 | $985/mo | 75% |
| Williams County, OH | 25 mi | $61,048 | $791/mo | 76% |
| Steuben County, IN | 27 mi | $74,911 | $933/mo | 79% |
| Lenawee County, MI | 29 mi | $70,518 | $987/mo | 80% |
| Calhoun County, MI | 29 mi | $63,177 | $968/mo | 73% |
Debt-to-income at Hillsdale County's medians
Hillsdale County at the medians, through a lender's eyes (what DTI means):
- $64,242 a year is $5,354 of gross monthly income
- Rent at the median, $832, takes 16% of that
- 35% debt-to-income limit: $1,042 left for all other debt payments
- Under a 45% cap, $2,409 total minus rent leaves $1,577
Two-income households and single earners in Hillsdale County land in very different places on this math, so run it for your own budget.
Hillsdale County households compared
21% of Hillsdale County adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or more. The uninsured rate is 6.4%, against 4.9% for Michigan.
| Hillsdale County | Michigan | U.S. county median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 43.1 | 40.2 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 21.2% | 32.4% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 8.9% | 7.9% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 6.4% | 4.9% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 5.5% | 7.0% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 8.1% | 13.5% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 14.4% | 13.2% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 4.4% | 5.7% | 4.4% |
| One-way commute | Share of Hillsdale County workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 36.6% |
| 15 to 29 min | 30.8% |
| 30 to 44 min | 19.4% |
| 45 to 59 min | 6.0% |
| 60+ min | 7.2% |
Borrowing situations common in Hillsdale County
What the Hillsdale County figures suggest, and what to check first:
- Paperwork. ID, proof of income and a bank account are the basics (requirements).
- Credit reports. Pull free reports at AnnualCreditReport.com and dispute errors before applying.
- Debt consolidation. One fixed payment can save money only if the written APR and fees beat what you pay now (guide).
Checking a lender's license in Michigan
Hillsdale County borrowers fall under statewide rules, enforced by the Michigan Department of Insurance and Financial Services. A CFPB complaint gets forwarded to the company for a response. See the Michigan state guide for the statewide picture.
Four steps for Hillsdale County borrowers
Before you apply, wherever you live in Hillsdale County:
- Know the exact dollar figure you need before talking to a lender.
- Shop at least three lenders, including one Hillsdale County-area credit union.
- Check the license, then the reviews, then the offer.
- Pick the shortest term whose payment still fits.
Related local guides
For statewide rules and data, see the Michigan guide.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median household income in Hillsdale County?
$64,242 a year in the 2020 to 2024 Census survey, versus $72,875 for Michigan. It ranks 39th of 83 in the state.
Is Hillsdale County expensive for renters?
Median rent is $832 against $1,129 statewide, and 41% of renter households are cost-burdened.
Does this page cover Hillsdale?
Yes, along with the other 11 Census places in Hillsdale County, such as Jonesville, Lake LeAnn, Litchfield.
Are Hillsdale County applicants treated differently?
No. Everyone answers the same questions and is screened on the same objective points; lending partners set their own criteria under fair-lending laws.
Is there a Hillsdale County office that licenses lenders?
No, licensing is statewide. In Michigan it is the Michigan Department of Insurance and Financial Services.